A 2-year-old boy lost his life last night when he dashed into a Queens street to follow his sister and uncle — right in front of an approaching van, witnesses and police said.

Andrew Ramirez of Elmhurst was struck in front of 42-20 82nd St., outside Moore Homestead Park and just steps from the boy’s horrified relatives, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at Elmhurst Hospital.

“I heard the scream and came outside,” said a woman, 19, who lives in the neighborhood. “The driver scooped him up. The driver was crying.”

Witnesses said the little boy and other children had been picking up candy left behind by illegal vendors who were chased from the park by city workers.

“The uncle and sister crossed the street, and the boy ran after them,” said Edison Boza, 31. “When he crossed, the van was coming. It wasn’t speeding.”

“He was the light of the family. It’s really hard,” the boy’s aunt Yeimy Marrero, 33, said outside the parents’ home early today.

“Everything happened so fast. He never tried to cross the street like that. He was scared of the cars.”

Resident William Graham, 68, said the street where the tragedy occurred is dangerous. “Cars are parked there, and cars coming from Broadway — it’s not easy for them to see,” he said.

Boza’s goddaughter, 12, said she helped the boy’s frantic sister call for help.